Articles
Robot pliés?: Eugene Ballet ponders AI in dance
KLCC
March 24, 2026
At its best, artificial intelligence is a great complement to human endeavors. At its worst, AI is an existential crisis that makes humans irrelevant…. Read More
Students of Eugene Ballet’s academy get time on state alongside the pros
Lookout Eugene-Springfield
February 21, 2026
Tonight, Juniper Zay is a carriage horse. An important one too. The 14-year-old’s role is to pull the carriage to center stage in Eugene Ballet’s “Cinderella.”…. Read More
Eugene Ballet’s ‘Cinderella’ is powered by two real-life love stories
Lookout Eugene-Springfield
February 20, 2026
Cinderella and Prince Charming fall in love while dancing, twirling across the floor amid an extravagant ball. But their time is cut short as midnight strikes…. Read More
Preview: Eugene Ballet’s “Cinderella”
Oregon Arts Watch
February 16, 2026
Choreographed by Toni Pimble, the heartwarming family classic will be performed at the Silva Concert Hall at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts on February 20-22…. Read More
Readers’ Choice: Standout Performances of 2025
Pointe Magazine
December 30, 2025
Every year, we ask our readers to tell us about their favorite professional ballet performances. From narrative full-lengths to more intimate small groups, a variety of productions made this year’s list…. Read More
Opening up ‘The Nutcracker’ for those with disabilities and sensitivities
Lookout Eugene-Springfield
December 20, 2025
Eugene Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” is a classic holiday spectacle presented in dynamic style…. Read More
Dance Preview: Eugene Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”
Oregon Arts Watch
December 17, 2025
From December 19 to 24, Eugene Ballet audiences will once again travel with Clara into the Land of the Sweets in “The Nutcracker,” this year featuring a special sensory-friendly performance…. Read More
How Choreographers Are Making Works That Imagine the Implications of Artificial Intelligence
Dance Magazine
November 24, 2025
Suzanne Haag’s 2023 reimagining of Petrushka veers far from the familiar ballet story. Instead of three puppets in a 19th-century fair booth, there are three artificially intelligent beings in charging docks…. Read More
Elegance and danger at the ballet: Dracula prowls the stage
Lookout Eugene-Springfield
October 31, 2025
Ballet is a challenging art form, a mix of athleticism, acting and pure dancing ability as performers become instruments for a choreographer’s vision…. Read More
Preview: Eugene Ballet’s ‘Dracula’
Oregon Arts Watch
October 29, 2025
Suzanne Haag’s full-length world-premiere reimagines Dracula with a film noir theme, multi-media scenery, and gravity-defying choreography…. Read More
New leaders at Eugene Ballet leap into planned roles
Lookout Eugene-Springfield
September 30, 2025
Toni Pimble’s final choreographed work has set the stage for her departure as the Eugene Ballet’s artistic director — but it’s not a dance at all…. Read More
The Art of Movement
Oregon Family Magazine
September 1, 2025
This season, Eugene Ballet is shining a spotlight on mental health and the power of shared experiences, like live performance, to support emotional well-being. …. Read More
Sex, booze and fate: Eugene Ballet revisits ‘Carmina Burana’ for Oregon Bach Festival
Lookout Eugene-Springfield
July 11, 2025
For Eugene Ballet, the performance is more than a period piece — it’s the final performance of the season for outgoing artistic director and resident choreographer Toni Pimble, who first choreographed the ballet in 1993…. Read More
Eugene Ballet artistic director looks back on 46 years of dance and collaboration
OPB
May 23, 2025
Toni Pimble moved to Oregon from Europe more than 46 years ago and co-founded Eugene Ballet…. Read More
Toni Pimble, Eugene Ballet's Founding Artistic Director, Retires After 46 Years
Pointe Magazine
May 15, 2025
After 46 years of leading Eugene Ballet, artistic director Toni Pimble is stepping down from the daily routine of running the company…. Read More
Pimble revamps ‘Midsummer,’ revisits ‘Silk’ for Eugene Ballet farewell
The Register-Guard
May 15, 2025
“Silk and Steel” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” to close out Toni’s Tribute Season at the Eugene Ballet…. Read More
Pimble revamps ‘Midsummer,’ revisits ‘Silk’ for Eugene Ballet farewell
Lookout Eugene-Springfield
May 15, 2025
For Toni Pimble’s final production as the artistic director of Eugene Ballet, the company performs two of her most beloved ballets — “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Silk and Steel.” The double bill is May 17 and 18 at the Hult Center…. Read More
Preview: Eugene Ballet’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and ‘Silk & Steel’
Oregon Arts Watch
May 13, 2025
The two dances, both choreographed by Toni Pimble, mark the end of Pimble’s almost half-century as the Eugene company’s co-founder, artistic director, and creative force…. Read More
‘The Toni’s’ honors longtime Eugene Ballet artistic director Toni Pimble
Lookout Eugene-Springfield
April 11, 2025
Toni Pimble’s dance journey began in the mid-1950s in Camberley, England…. Read More
A Night for ‘The Toni’s’
Eugene Weekly
April 10, 2025
Eugene Ballet’s Toni Pimble’s Farewell Season Continues April 12…. Read More
The Toni’s: Eugene Ballet presents a Toni Pimble retrospective
Oregon ArtsWatch
April 8, 2025
On Saturday, April 12, the company pays special tribute to Eugene Ballet’s founder and longtime artistic director, presenting five works, choreographed and selected by Pimble herself, which reflect her long career in dance…. Read More
Eugene Ballet honors Toni Pimble's ballet career
KEZI
April 7, 2025
Eugene Ballet’s artistic director’s swan song arrives after 46 years in role…. Read More
Eugene Ballet Takes on ‘Carmen’
Eugene Weekly
February 20, 2025
Through graceful leaps and expressive faces, Eugene Ballet takes the story of Carmen to new levels without spoken word or song…. Read More
Dance Preview: Eugene Ballet’s ‘Carmen’
Oregon ArtsWatch
February 18, 2025
The celebrated story of the ill-fated lovers Carmen and Don José features Toni Pimble’s original choreography, inspired by Georges Bizet’s opera of the same name… Read More
Lane County Cover Mom Danielle Tolmie
MOM Magazine
February 1, 2025
When a demanding career meets motherhood, the result is a joyous freedom from perfection… Read More
Preview: Eugene Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker,’ a joyful production for Toni Pimble’s final season
Oregon ArtsWatch
December 16, 2024
This season’s presentation offers audiences one more opportunity to experience the magic touches that retiring artistic director Pimble brings to the beloved ballet… Read More
A holiday tradition for ballet beginners and aficionados: Eugene Ballet's The Nutcracker
KLCC
December 11, 2024
The Eugene Ballet will bring The Nutcracker to the Hult Center this month. The ballet is a holiday tradition, with Tchaikovsky’s music performed live by Orchestra Next, and choreography by Toni Pimble… Read More
The Nutcracker brings family tradition to Eugene
The Daily Emerald
December 9, 2024
Many may have seen or at least heard of the Nutcracker, and this holiday season the classical ballet returns to Eugene at the Hult Center with performances from the Eugene Ballet Company Dec. 19-24… Read More
How Artistic Directors Program a Season
Pointe Magazine
October 28, 2024
One of the most challenging, but fascinating, jobs artistic directors undertake is planning their company’s repertoire each year. Programming is a task that requires insight, forethought, and creativity. Here, four artistic directors share how they approach designing a season… Read More
November DanceWatch: A rich design for Toni Pimble’s ‘Mowgli’ at Eugene Ballet
Oregon ArtsWatch
October 28, 2024
An extraordinary amount of unseen work goes into turning an idea into a dance and bringing it to life on stage… Read More
Eugene Ballet prepares for opening night for adaptation of The Jungle Book
KEZI
October 24, 2024
The Eugene Ballet is getting ready for opening night of “Mowgli: The Jungle Book Ballet,” an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s renowned story of “The Jungle Book.”… Read More
A remarkable swan song: Toni Pimble enters the last of her 46 years leading Eugene Ballet
Oregon ArtsWatch
October 24, 2024
Eugene Ballet’s Toni Pimble might be the most prolific ballet choreographer Oregon has ever known. In her 46-year tenure in Eugene, she has choreographed more than 60 works and has been instrumental in growing EB from a small ballet school into an internationally respected ballet company… Read More
Making Theater Accessible for Kids: A Guide to Enjoying Ballet with Young Audience Members
Oregon Family Magazine
September 30, 2024
At Eugene Ballet, the Artistic staff is always thrilled to see young faces light up during a performance. We believe that theater should be accessible to everyone, especially children. If you’re thinking of bringing your child to a ballet performance, we have some great tips to help you prepare for a fantastic experience… Read More
Legacy of Grace: Toni Pimble and the Rise of Eugene Ballet
50 Plus Magazine
September 26, 2024
Once upon a time, a child in England donned ballet shoes, opening the way to the stuff of fairy tales. Years later, that little girl would form a small-town ballet company that would grow to pirouette onto the world stage… Read More
Eugene Ballet celebrates legacy of Beloved Artistic Director
KLCC NPR
September 3, 2024
In September 1982, a performance of the Firebird ballet took place at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts in Eugene. The dance was only the second act to take the stage at the newly opened theater, and it marked the beginning of a decades-long partnership between the Hult Center and the Eugene Ballet… Read More
Meet Suzanne Haag
Canvas Rebel
August 5, 2024
We were lucky to catch up with Suzanne Haag recently and have shared our conversation below… Read More
Dancing Toward the Future
Eugene Magazine
Summer 2024
Eugene Ballet’s Toni Pimble retires with a rich architectural and creative legacy… Read More
Village Love: Tracy Bonham is Back Home in Eugene with a Fresh Perspective and Sound
People Magazine
June 14, 2024
How Tracy Bonham’s Divorce and Breast Cancer Diagnoses Became an ‘Opportunity to Turn Inward’: ‘It’s a Gift’ … Read More
Peter Pan closes out Eugene Ballet’s 2023-24 live music season
KEZI
May 19, 2024
This weekend’s shows promised stunning choreography, re-imagined costumes and a custom-commissioned score played by a live orchestra… Read More
Village Love: Tracy Bonham is Back Home in Eugene with a Fresh Perspective and Sound
Eugene Weekly
April 4, 2024
Alt-rock trailblazer and classically trained musician Tracy Bonham’s commercial success first came when she was 27, when the track “Mother Mother” erupted and topped the Modern-Rock Billboard charts in 1996…. Read More
Dance Preview: Eugene Ballet’s ‘Portrait in Glass’ and ‘Gatsby’
Oregon ArtsWatch
February 6, 2024
This weekend two classic works of 20th century American literature come to life in the form of 21st century ballet. Eugene Ballet begins the second half of its 2023-2024 dance season with two dance performances both inspired by masterpieces of American literature… Read More
Clara, A Prince, A Fairy And The Mouse King — Take A Bow
Eugene Weekly
December 21, 2023
The storyline and characters are well known. There is the “Party Scene,” “The Transformation,” “The Battle Scene” and the “Snow Scene.” And that’s just Act I… Read More
Preview: Eugene Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”
Oregon ArtsWatch
December 16, 2023
Every year, the holiday classic provides aspiring young dancers from the Willamette Valley to Alaska with their first experience of the world of professional ballet…. Read More
Preview: A dazzling, icy adventure, ‘The Snow Queen’ returns to Eugene Ballet
Oregon ArtsWatch
October 20, 2023
Eugene Ballet opens its fall season with a revival of artistic director Toni Pimble’s Snow Queen at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, October 27-29. The company premiered the popular ballet adventure… Read More
Review: Joffrey Ballet Celebrates Life in Dance with the Arpino Chicago Centennial Celebration
Third Coast Review
September 27, 2023
The Joffrey Ballet took up residence in Chicago in 1996. After nearly four decades in New York and the death of Robert Joffrey, Gerald Arpino, his partner in life and in dance… Read More
Arts Institutions in our Community: The Curtain is Up, But Challenges Remain
KLCC
August 18, 2023
On this edition of Oregon On The Record, we talked with leaders at some of our most prominent performance organizations, the Eugene Ballet, the Oregon Bach Festival and the Eugene Symphony and hear how they are recovering after enduring the existential crisis of the Pandemic… Read More
‘The Little Mermaid’: Bringing the Sea to Stage
Oregon ArtsWatch
May 16, 2023
The captivating magic of Danish author Hans Christan Anderson’s tale of “The Little Mermaid” is alive and well… Read More
Preview: Eugene Ballet poised to present 'BOLD: Beyond Our Love of Dance'
Oregon ArtsWatch
April 3, 2023
A meandering adventure through an array of moods, music, and scenarios, Eugene Ballet’s upcoming production, “BOLD: Beyond Our Love of Dance,” is a daring exploration of movement styles in dance… Read More
The classic 'Petrushka' ballet re-imagined comes to Eugene
The Register-Guard
February 9, 2023
Dancers with the Eugene Ballet rehearsed Wednesday for their world premiere of Petrushka at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts in Eugene… Read More
Aspirants and educators: Orchestra Next’s decade of dance music
Oregon ArtsWatch
December 20, 2022
A decade ago, Brian McWhorter’s kids were reaching the age when it was time to introduce them to that essential childhood ritual, The Nutcracker… Read More
‘Synonymous with the holidays:’ Eugene Ballet brings magic to ‘The Nutcracker’
The Register-Guard
December 17, 2022
The iconic sounds of Tchaikovsky fill the Hult Center as dancers from Eugene Ballet Co. prepare for another year of mischievous mice and dancing sparkling snowflakes in the company’s production of “The Nutcracker”… Read More
Making Space: How Dance Businesses Are Creating Their Own Arts Hubs
DanceTeacher
December 7, 2022
For many years, Eugene Ballet was nomadic, bouncing between studios and office spaces throughout the small Oregon city and beyond… Read More
Eugene Ballet gives a Shakespeare classic a feminist twist
Oregon ArtsWatch
May 9, 2022
Some people find The Taming of the Shrew to be one of Shakespeare’s most compelling comedies. Others find it sexist, or at least offensive in the way it depicts women and how they should behave… Read More
Heaven and Earth
Eugene Weekly
April 14, 2022
It took two years of moving Heaven and Earth through the tangled mess of rescheduling brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, but Eugene Ballet will finally land on stage this weekend with two performances of Heaven and Earth… Read More
Eugene Ballet moves Heaven and Earth
Oregon ArtsWatch
April 11, 2022
Headlining the final performance of Eugene Ballet Company’s 41st season in 2020 was to be the world premiere of Heaven and Earth, an original work choreographed by EBC’s Suzanne Haag, set to a powerful and passionate score for percussion by internationally renowned musician/composer Pius Cheung and performed by OrchestraNext’s percussion ensemble… Read More
Celebrating new visionaries of dance
Oregon ArtsWatch
February 8, 2022
A young ballerina, yearning to be a choreographer, has had few female role models to look up to for hope and inspiration… Read More
Eugene Ballet gives fresh take on holiday 'Nutcracker' at Hult Center
The Register-Guard
December 17, 2021
The Eugene Ballet company returns to the stage with its seasonal run of “The Nutcracker” at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts… Read More
Eugene Ballet: The Nutcracker
Eugene Weekly
December 16, 2021
Enraptured ballerinas-to-be, along with their adult handlers, will flock to Silva Concert Hall at the Hult Center starting Dec. 17 for the seven-performance run of Eugene Ballet: The Nutcracker… Read More
Eugene Ballet returns with full production of 'Cinderella' at the Hult Center
The Register-Guard
November 5, 2021
After years of twists and turns — the bad kind — the Eugene Ballet is finally set to debut “Cinderella” this weekend, making a triumphant return of big-production drama, glam and, of course, many spins and pirouettes — the good kind… Read More
Back in Character
Eugene Weekly
November 4, 2021
Mark Tucker lingers in the air for a moment after launching into the first jump in his solo as Prince Charming… Read More
Realizing the Impossible Dream: Eugene’s Midtown Arts Center
Oregon ArtsWatch
September 22, 2021
Curious neighbors watched as bulldozers quickly leveled two aging buildings and a paved parking lot following the groundbreaking ceremony on May 10, 2018 for a multi-million dollar, seven story,128,000 square foot mixed use building designed to house Eugene’s Midtown Arts Center and a 40-unit luxury condo complex known as The Midtown… Read More
Mixed-use marvel: Eugene's new Midtown Arts Center a marriage of public arts and private development
The Register-Guard
August 9, 2021
The Midtown Arts Center, at 16th Avenue and Pearl Street, is open and functional. The seven-story mixed-use structure, called The Midtown, opened at the beginning of the year… Read More
CAFE 541: Beings of Eugene: Sara Stockwell — professional dancer and foodie
The Register-Guard
August 28, 2020
Sara Stockwell, 27, was born in “Rochester, Minnesooota! Oh yeah, you betcha,” she said with a smile. Her dance training lead her to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School in Canada and Ellison Ballet in New York City. She moved to Eugene in 2011 to dance with the Eugene Ballet Company… Read More
Eugene Ballet’s Toni Pimble receives Governor’s Arts Award
The Register-Guard
August 3, 2020
Eugene Ballet’s founding artistic director Toni Pimble was among four artists and one organization Gov. Kate Brown announced Friday as winners of the 2020 Governor’s Arts Awards… Read More
Realizing the Impossible Dream: Eugene’s Midtown Arts Center
Oregon ArtsWatch
February 3, 2020
The Eugene Ballet Company continues its 41st season on February 8 and 9 with a revival of Alice In Wonderland, last performed in 2010, and the introduction of an exciting new work, The Large Rock and The Little Yew… Read More
Toni Pimble's patterns part of Eugene Ballet's vision
The Register-Guard
January 24, 2020
Not only does artistic director Toni Pimble oversee all aspects of the Eugene Ballet, she also puts her own hands to work to assemble performances… Read More
Eugene's unique loan program sustains municipal art
The Register-Guard
November 13, 2019
Thanks to local support, world-class dance will remain healthy and kicking in Eugene. Art Loan, bridge loan financing from the city of Eugene and the Arts and Business Alliance of Eugene, will support two of Eugene Ballet’s 2019-20 season productions… Read More
Path began with love of arts
The Register-Guard
November 15, 2019
From the time Toni Pimble was 8 years old, ballet has been her life. As a child Pimble, now the art director of Eugene Ballet, grew up in Camberley in Surry, England, near London and developed a love of music from her parents, who enjoyed playing classical music… Read More
CAFE 541: The pointe of family
The Register-Guard
October 24, 2019
Dancing the lead dual role of Odette and Odile in Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake is one of the most difficult, challenging and coveted roles for a ballerina… Read More
Suzanne Haag plays with fire
Oregon ArtsWatch
April 1, 2019
On a recent flight home to Eugene, former Eugene Ballet dancer Suzanne Haag struck up a casual conversation with the man seated next to her… Read More
Eugene Ballet to the Rescue
Eugene Weekly
January 17, 2019
Eugene Ballet Company recently stepped up to rescue a small northern California ballet company’s annual production of The Nutcracker, which was canceled after last year’s lethal Camp Fire…. Read More
40 years on pointe
The Register-Guard
September 12, 2018
When Choreographer Suzanne Haag brings her rendition of “The Firebird” to Eugene Ballet audiences in April, it won’t be the first time it’s been performed by the ballet… Read More
Eugene Ballet preview: dance of the mountain king
Oregon ArtsWatch
April 8, 2018
When Eugene Ballet artistic director Toni Pimble decided to stage Peer Gynt, she faced a daunting challenge: transforming poetry into dance… Read More
“Great Gatsby” at Eugene Ballet Company, April 10, 2016
Eugene Weekly
April 11, 2016
Eugene audiences were treated to two world premieres yesterday, as the Eugene Ballet Company presented Suzanne Haag’s Look and Toni Pimble’s The Great Gatsby... Read More
Eugene Ballet takes trip back to extravagant ’20s
The Register-Guard
April 7, 2016
It’s a trip back to the extravagant 1920s when the Eugene Ballet Company presents the world premiere of Artistic Director Toni Pimble’s ‘The Great Gatsby’ on Saturday with a second performance on Sunday…. Read More
Bridging town and gown through dance
Bridging town and gown through dance By Gary Ferrington There has often been a social and cultural distance between an institution of higher education and the city that surrounds it.…
A Graceful Transition
A Graceful Transition Where others have stumbled, Eugene Ballet takes a lighter approach to the challenge of succession By Bob Keefer Four decades ago, Toni Pimble came to Eugene…
Love Hurts
Love Hurts EBC and Orchestra Next collaborate on a first-rate Romeo & Juliet By Rachael Carnes As a little kid in the ’70s, I wore a groove in my parent’s…
‘Romeo & Juliet’: Eugene Ballet moves to a flaming score
‘Romeo & Juliet’: Eugene Ballet moves to a flaming score By Matthew Denis The Eugene Ballet’s interpretation of “Romeo & Juliet” may not include Shakespeare’s quintessential wordplay, but there are…
Magic is in the details for Eugene Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’
Magic is in the details for Eugene Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’ The holiday classic runs Friday through Sunday at the Hult Center By Emily Goodykoontz Eugene Ballet has traded in its horse-drawn…
Stitches in Time
STITCHES IN TIME THE FASHION ARTISTRY OF JONNA HAYDEN By Mikael Krummel | Published December 2018 Jonna Hayden designs and builds costumes—incredible costumes! Her costumes aren’t the ones you might…
Videos
Swan Lake Rehearsals
We’re working hard to perfect our upcoming production of Swan Lake! Here’s a sneak peek of rehearsals from yesterday, October 7. Learn more: eugeneballet.org/swan-lake/
We Train To Dance
Where is the line drawn between sports and the arts? Between stadiums and performance halls? Between conditioning for a game and practice for a show? And what measures an athlete?…
Why Ballet?
Why ballet? We feel that ballet has something for everyone. That it speaks in many languages and tells stories in vibrant color, bright lights, and powerful music. Ballet can simultaneously…
Principal Dancer Danielle Tolmie Discusses Dancing the Role of Juliet
Principal Dancer Danielle Tolmie discusses what she’s looking forward to as she rehearses to dance the role of Juliet. Video by Katherine Williams
Dancers of Eugene Ballet: Yamil Maldonado
Check out this short clip of Eugene Ballet Company Dancer Yamil Maldonado and learn more about this talented dancer! Read Yamil’s full bio: https://www.eugeneballet.org/staff-member… Follow Yamil on Instagram at instagram.com/@yamsdancerman…
Eugene Ballet Turns 40
As we prepare for our 40th Anniversary Season we’re thrilled to give you a glimpse into the many movements that have brought us here. We’re honored to be a part…